Who is Denis Zakaria? The Gladbach midfielder wanted by Man Utd and Arsenal

Stefan Bienkowski

Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
6 min read

Who is Denis Zakaria? The Gladbach midfielder wanted by Man Utd and Arsenal — © ProShots

Borussia Monchengladbach are gearing up for a turbulent summer period this year, as the Bundesliga side prepare for all sorts of changes ahead of the new season.

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The most pertinent one will be the departure of head coach Marco Rose, who is set to leave for league rivals Borussia Dortmund at the end of this current league campaign.

However, another influential name that could also depart the club in a matter of months is midfielder Denis Zakaria, who continues to be linked with moves to the English Premier League.

What position does Denis Zakaria play in?

After coming through as a ball-winning central midfielder at Young Boys, Zakaria has certainly shown his ability to play as a box-to-box midfielder and as a holding midfielder for Gladbach over the last four seasons.

The young player initially came through as a striker at youth level and then spent some time as a central defender, so it makes perfect sense to see him roaming across the pitch, perfectly capable of sticking in a tackle as well as he can set up a goal for a teammate.

How good is Denis Zakaria?

Initially signed to replace the creative midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud, Zakaria quickly established himself as a very different type of midfielder but still one that took to the Bundesliga like a duck to water.

After signing for a sizable sum by Gladbach standards, the Switzerland international was placed directly into Dieter Hecking’s side and wasted no time in showing how good he could be at dominating opposition players.

That box-to-box energy was then put to full use when Rose took over the club in 2019, as Zakaria and his teammates pushed the Foals all the way to fourth place in the Bundesliga and qualification for the Champions League.

If the Premier League is the endgame for Zakaria, he certainly seems to show all the confidence needed to reach such heights.

When asked about his main attributes in an interview with the Times, the midfielder said:

“I have a lot of speed; I’m very good in one-on-ones; I can break lines pretty well. I like to take the ball and try to get through the opposing line. I think my speed is pretty good for a No.6.”

And who would he compare himself to in that regard? Well, none other than Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira. “I have watched many videos of Vieira,” he says, “I see a bit of myself in him. I like the way he played.”

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What clubs are interested in Denis Zakaria?

Like all midfielders that leave their mark on the Bundesliga, it wasn’t long before Zakaria was being linked with some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League.

According to reports in England, the two teams that are leading the way are Manchester United and Manchester City, who are both apparently interested in signing a combative central midfielder in the summer.

Another club that has recently joined the race are Arsenal, however it seems unlikely that Mikel Arteta would prioritise another defensive midfielder this summer after spending so much money on Thomas Partey last year.